Valve and seal means

ABSTRACT

A double taper funnel is connected to a reservoir that is provided at another point with an open-closed valve having a ball core. The casing of the valve is separable from the reservoir and the ball can enter the casing only through this separation. A cooperating seal for connecting liquid containers to the funnel is a double ended stopper or cork with a tube extending through it. The tube is divided longitudinally by a partition to provide separate passageways for air and liquid.

llnite States Patent Farrell et a1.

VALVE AND SEAL MEANS Inventors: John C. Farrell, Thomas L. Balfanz, both of Excelsior, Minn.

Assignee: Select Systems Inc., Minneapolis,

Minn.

Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 Appl. No.: 98,584

US. Cl. ..141/332, 141/297, 141/344, 141/383, 251/145, 251/315, 285/8 Int. Cl. ..B65b 39/00, B670 1 1/04 Field of Search ..l37/317, 320, 323; 141/297, 308, 309, 311, 331, 332, 344, 363, 364, 365, 366, 383; 184/105 R; 220/86 R; 222/479; 251/145, 315; 285/8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1919 Pratt ..220/86 R X 1 Apr. 24, 973

2,500,404 3/1950 Donnelly ..285/8 X 2,847,042 8/1958 Edelmann.... 141/309 X 2,424,101 7/1947 Lari ..222/479 X Primary Examinerl-louston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney-L. A. MacEachron 5 7 ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 INVENTORS L/OHN C. FA ERELL 2 3 aw 5w YTHOMAS L. 5m FA rvc VALVE AND SEAL MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention grew out of a need for a quick and reliable means for connecting liquid containing bottles or other containers to a manifold while the manifold was 7 filled with flowing liquid or at least liquid that was ready to flow. In the past, these connections were made by a flexible tube so that the bottle or other container was first connected to the system while right side up and then inverted in order to empty its contents into the system. While such a means will function, it is relatively cumbersome and requires much more maintenance then theis invention. Also, a flexible tube can not serve as a pressure resisting member when trying to hold a cork or similar seal in contact with the container. Some sort of harness embraces the container in order to hold the cork in the container neck. Finally the valves that were available did not seem to be entirely satisfactory for the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid such as alcoholic beverages, at least.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is ball type valve combined with a funnel like arrangement into which a double ended cork can fit and provide a seal to a liquid container. Since the entire structure is rigid, then container may be pushed toward the funnel to maintain the seal. Below the funnel is a reservoir which can catch and hold the small amount of liquid that is poured out of the container as it is first tipped into the funnel to establish a sealing relationship. Until the container is in place, the valve is closed, thereafter, it can be opened and the container is connected to the system. An empty container may be removed and replaced when the valve is closed without interfering with operation. The cork has a tube extending through it that serves both to let liquid exit and to permit air to enter. The tube is divided longitudinally for more consistent operation. It has also been found that operation is still more consistent if the partition extends beyond the end of the tube proper with the sides of the tube at the end biased cut up to the partition in sort of a chisel point.

The valve is a ball type. That is, the core is in the form of a ball with a passageway through it and the valve casing is made internally to form half of asocket. The other half of the socket is a ring that fits against the other side of the ball. This makes a very satisfactory valve structure. The operating handle is connected to the ball at only one side so that the number of seals is less than in many valves which might be used in the system.

THE DRAWINGS All of the figures in the drawings are drawn to the same scale.

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the funnel, valve, reservoir and a fragment ofa manifold;

FIG. 2 is a fragment of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 2- FIG. 3 is a horizontal section of the structure shown in FIG. 2 taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a fragment of the structure shown in FIG. 2 taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 4 4;

FIG. 5 is a similar view to that in FIG. 1 with the double cork seal and a fragment of a liquid container shown being inserted into the funnel; the valve is shown in the closed position and the manifold has been omitted; and

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but with the container in final position and the valve shown open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, the invention is seen in vertical section. At 10 is a manifold to which it is desired to connect a liquid filled container. A socket type valve casing 11 is suitably secured to the manifold in liquid tight relationship. A conduit 12 provides communication between the casing and the manifold. Ball core 14 fits within the socket casing 11 and is a nice fit in the lower hemispherical portion of the casing. Ring 15 forms the upper half of the socket embracing ball 14 and has just above it a deformable seal 16. Pressure ring 17 is above seal 16. An O-ring seal 18 provides a sealing link between the funnel assembly top 19 of the valve casing and the pressure ring 17. Clamping means such as ordinary screw threaded devices (not shown) pull the top 19 into firm contact with valve casing 11 which applies distorting pressure to the seals 16 and 18.

Top 19 includes a chamber or reservoir 20 which communicates with the surrounding atmosphere via a double angle funnel structure having a lower portion 21 and an upper portion 22. The angle of the lower portion matches one of the tapers on double cork or stopper 24, FIGS. 5 and 6, while the upper portion is a non-critical angle that permits easy entrance of the stopper and serves as a funnel for liquid pouring out of container as it is inverted into the connection.

In FIG. 2 the core 14 is seen to have a stub 25 that projects into the side opening 26 of casing 11. Operating handle 27 is secured suitably, as by screw 28, to the core stub 25. A ring-shoulder 29 on stub 25 stops one side of an O-ring 30. Projecting shoulder 31 on handle 27 engages the other side of the O-ring to distort it into sealing contact with the side opening 26 and stub 25.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, stub 25 has a bifurcated end 32 which engages a copperating double cavity 34 in the operating handle to provide positive driving of the core 14. A quadrant stop 23 on side opening 26 cooperates with the sector portion 33 of handle 27 to correctly align the opening in core 14 with the passage way 12 or assure complete closing of it in the alternative.

FIG. 5 shows the double stopper 24 is hollow and carries tube 35 that is divided longitudinally by partition 36. The upper end of tube 35 extends beyond the stopper and is cut angularly from both sides up to the end of the partition. It forms sort of a chisel point for the tube 35. This has been found to prevent air locks. As liquid 37 flows out of the container, only the neck 38 of which is shown here, air must flow in as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows the container neck 38 in sealed communication with cavity 20 via double stopper 24. In FIG. 6 also, core 14 is shown in communicating relation between cavity 20 and passageway 12. FIG. 5 We claim: shows the reverse condition of core 14. 1. A valve and seal means between Liquid filled containers and a manifold comprising:

OPERATION A. a valve casing including a double taper funnel en- Before a container is in place in funnel assembly 19, 5 trance and a reservoir and an exit, valve core 14 i i i d as Shown i F1(; 5 f B. a valve core in the casing and between said resercourse. A liquid container while right side up has dou- VOil' and exit; Said Valve casing comprising: ble stopper 24 applied to it with the biased end of the a bottom Portion having a hemi'sherical shape tube 35 entending into the container. As the container inside nd With a bottom exit, side opening and is tipped and inserted into funnel 22, liquid 37 pours P that is p n at least to the t r f the into funnel 22 and at least partially fills reservoir 20. Core, This action is completed with dispatch, but great haste sai valve r ing ph rical with a passage is not necessary. Cavity 20 provides ample room for the y through it nd a u nding at right anfirst flowing liquid. lf cavity 20 is not filled with liquid gles t0 the passage way, said stub extending into in the initial tipping action, any air in the cavity flows 15 Said Side p g, up through one side of tube 25 and liquid flows down C. Means secured to said core stub for actuating the through the other side. Once the container is securely core to either close off the reservoir from the exit in place as shown in FlG. 6, the core 14 is turned to or to connect them; Said means beinga handle, complete the connection between cavity and the D- al m ans etween Said Stub, handle and Side conduit or manifold 10 via the conduit 12. Any suitable 20 p ning, means may be emplyed to assure that the container E. a socket ring within said casing and engaging the stopper and funnel member 21 remain in aligned and side of said spherical core that does not engage the sealing relationship. If the manifold 10 is stationary, a hemi-spherical casing, simple pressure on the end of the container urging it F. said double taper funnel means is secured to the toward the funnel will suffice. Handle 27 is then rotated 25 top of said hemispherical casing, as far as permitted by quadrant stop 23 and sector 33. G. means sealing between said spherical core, casing This roation of handle 27 places core 14 in the position and double taper funnel shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6. As air is admitted to H. acontainer to valve casing seal means comprising: manifold 10, it enters the container via one-half of tube a houble ended Stoppeh or cork h end of 35 and liquid is discharged through the other half into h fits the Paper of Sam valve casmg hearest the manifold. When the container is empty, valve 27 is to reservo" f the other end of whch fits turned to the closed position of FIG. 5, and the empty the h of a cohmmer; houble ended cork container can be replaced with a full one. In the mean- 'f h 'j way through 1"? time, other containers may be servicing the manifold aipamhoh m passageway dmdmg 1t lohgltu' 10. dmally and extending beyond the end of said Below the invention is defined by specific claims as double ended cork that fits a containerrequired by law. 

1. A valve and seal means between Liquid filled containers and a manifold comprising: A. a valve casing including a double taper funnel entrance and a reservoir and an exit, B. a valve core in the casing and between said reservoir and exit; said valve casing comprising: a. a bottom portion having a hemi-sherical shape inside and with a bottom exit, side opening and top that is open at least to the diameter of the core, b. said valve core being spherical with a passage way through it and a stub extending at right angles to the passage way, said stub extending into said side opening, C. Means secured to said core stub for actuating the core to either close off the reservoir from the exit or to connect them; said means being a handle, D. seal means between said stub, handle and side opening, E. a socket ring within said casing and engaging the side of said spherical core that does not engage the hemi-spherical casing, F. said double taper funnel means is secured to the top of said hemispherical casing, G. means sealing between said spherical core, casing and double taper funnel H. a container to valve casing seal means comprising:
 1. a double ended stopper or cork one end of which fits the taper of said valve casing nearest to said reservoir and the other end of which fits the neck of a container; said double ended cork having a passage way through it, and
 2. a partition in said passageway dividing it longitudinally and extending beyond the end of said double ended cork that fits a container.
 2. a partition in said passageway dividing it longitudinally and extending beyond the end of said double ended cork that fits a container. 